The Tracks4Crafts project aims to identify solution pathways that address the challenges faced by craftspeople within current national legal frameworks, as well as in the context of ongoing policy and legislative developments at the EU level.
Within this framework, the Latvian Academy of Culture (LAC) has focused on several key actions:
Preparing the report “Legal and Policy Frameworks of Crafts in Europe: Approaches at the State Level”
Contributing to the Tracks4Crafts policy brief
Developing recommendations for policymakers and legislators at local, national, and EU levels, highlighting key challenges and legislative gaps to be addressed in future policy development
To ensure a comprehensive and well-grounded outcome, the final stage of this work includes the organisation of eight thematic Policy Labs. These will take the form of online focus group discussions designed to validate findings and further explore identified challenges and recommendations.
The Policy Labs aim to bring together policymakers and key ecosystem stakeholders to discuss, refine, and validate recommendations relevant to local and national contexts.
Online implementation, bringing together stakeholders from several European countries, ensures an opportunity to focus deeply on thematic areas rather than on country-specific exceptions. First rounds of Policy Labs are planned in spring 2026 (April 10, April 17; April 24 and May 8). Second rounds will take place in the fall 2026 to validate the findings.
The data gathered through these discussions will inform the report on good practices for addressing legal and policy issues at different levels, including the preparation of a roadmap on intellectual property protection in the field of crafts, and will support recommendations for strengthening the ecosystems in which traditional crafts knowledge is transmitted.
Planned subject areas of the Policy Labs:
Certification of Traditional Crafts Knowledge
Increasing Visibility of Traditional Crafts Knowledge
Traditional Crafts Knowledge Transmission
Towards an Intellectual Property Roadmap for Crafts Practitioners